A graphic compares authorized staffing levels with the number of prosecutors serving at major district prosecutors’ offices across South Korea as of Jan. 1, April 22 and July 1. It also shows that 80 prosecutors resigned during the first half of 2026, including 62 with at least 11 years of experience. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI
July 13 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's prosecution service is losing many of its most experienced personnel less than three months before the institution is abolished and replaced under the government's prosecutorial reform program.
Although the overall number of prosecutors has increased, resignations and assignments to special counsel investigations have left the organization increasingly dependent on newly appointed and junior prosecutors.
Asia Today analyzed staffing levels, vacancies and outside assignments at 60 district prosecutors' offices nationwide, excluding the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and high prosecutors' offices. The analysis updated reviews conducted Jan. 1 and April 22.
The number of prosecutors assigned to the 60 offices increased by 127, from 1,746 on April 22 to 1,873 as of July 1.
